THE DEVONPORT COASTGUARD ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1900, Page 2

THE DEVONPORT COASTGUARD ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS.

The Devonport Coastguard Artillery Volunteer Corps marched out of camp on Saturday evening, having been in a camp of instruction at Devonport for 16 days. During that time the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men have been put through a thorough course of gunnery by Captain MacKenzic,. 8.A., and the artillery instructors of the Permanent Force. Captain Napier was in charge of the company, ably assisted by r Lieuts. Gardner and Tarrant. Fifty members of the company passed their examination as qualified gunners, for which each receives a gunner's badge and a sum of £1 from the Government. The N.C.O.'s passed very successful examinations. The men were put through their carbine class firing by Lieut. Gardner. On Wednesday morning last Fort Talfapuna was manned at 3.30 a.m., and shot and shell firingwith the quick-firing guns was .engaged in. On Saturday afternoon the gun detachments competed for two prizes of £5 and £2. The prize of £5 for the best drilled detachment was awarded to Sergeant Wynyard's detachment, the second prize for speed being won by Sergeant Grinlinton's detachment. Excellent work has been done by the men throughout the encampment, and most satisfactory progress has been made. It may jbe mentioned as a. creditable achievement that a detachment of the company on Saturday surpassed the record of the Permanent- Artillery for speed in loading an 8-inch gun, the time being taken -from \tlie order "Load" to the order "Take post to lay." The Coastguard detachment j did this on Saturday in 33 seconds, the time taken by 'the Permanent Force being 40 seconds. Considering the weight of projectile, 2101bs, and the cartridges, HOlbs, and the various duties necessary to prepare the gun for firing, the time taken reflected the greatest credit on the corps.